Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-06-25
THE JUNIOR PARTNER.
BY NANDA L. CROKER.

anOther OF the trying times was inevitable.
The outer door shut with bang, suggest
i've OF temper the froWn on his face grew
darker and he strobe saVagely down street
and out Of sight. A woman looked after
him a moment, and then with q sigh went
back to her work in the next room
To look at her one would not imagine
that aught Of happiness had ever lighted
up the pale, drawn face, or sbone from the
great sad eyes. Five years previous, how
ever, there we're smiles, and bright ones,
20, but presto change; she was not the
wife OF the passionate, unreasonable man
then, who just now had slammed the hall
door after him, and who, invariably, tossed
aside his eampany manners on entering his
own house.
Long after her husband had left the
house she sat there busy with the riddle Of
her life. Each trying time" as she de-
nominated Abner's Outbursts Of temper,
seemed dreary milestones measuring of
loves descent, as her regard and respect
for his wishes, bright domestic dreams,
and finally her greatlO for him came to the
place OF the offering up. After that every
thing had gone as it might, and she had
stepped down from the ideal heights, level
little else than to be rid OF it all.
4 believe I viii get my zephyr and try
the new stitch, she said finally coming
back from the past and trying to forget the
Wretched drift Of her thoughts.
The piazza was cool and inviting, and
Just where the roses dropped and nodded
in the sweet weather, Eleanor Byrne
drew the favorite sleepy-wiIlow chair, and
began crotcheting. But the new stitch"
was not a success, judging from the pre-
picked air Of the knitter and the long
pauses between endeavors.
Il must see the rules again. she
said, rising. After the rules had been
consulted, the HnsW stitch threw itself into
an exquisite pattern under the practical
touch Of the deft fingers.
aHow prettyl" she exclaimed, holding it
up to good advantage, where the afternoon
sun hickered through the lattice Of vines
and danced over her sunny hair and the
work together.
@Tve a mind to answer that advertise
ment in the Journal, and obtain work.
Ladies can made from 50 to - dollars per
day at home" quoting from memory, sand
if could do that shouldn't be such a
drag on Abner's hands, and hear Of it
every time want cent OK an article of
dress"
The patient mouth quiVered into silence,
and two bright tears fell unheeded on the
exquisite pattern In zephyr Just completed.
Poor little womanl Somehow she felt that
her habitation Of "sweet domesticityH had
been built upon the sand, and that these
storms OF angry passion were fast
sweeping out the foundations thereof.
These trying times" always frightened
her 80, and it seemed an utter impossi-
bility to get accustomed to them.
Ever since Abner's first tantrum, when she
had ned in terror down the green lane OF
her country home to the woodland be-
yond, vaguely questioning herself "was
this really Abner2" these fits Of temper had
terrified her.
The question had come that day from
the depths Of her enlightened soul, where
covering. shrinking down in pain from it
first terrible wound, her love was trying K
reassert itself. But these days her affee
ton made no sight for the supremacy, only
covered and shrank the more near the altar
wherein the incense burnednO longer.
wonder what's a-trOublin' herl" sOlilo
quized the postman, thrusting his han'
through the open window ind dropping
the mail on the table before the pale httl
wife and turning away. Seems paler an,
paler; know somethin' is a.worryin' her
Well, every one Of us pore mOrtals has 4
have somethin' to kinder hold him level
an keep the fact before him that this is tn
vale o. tears. Theirs is death, I reckon,
he concluded, slipping a letter with blael
seal to the boy next door, and going Of
his way.
She looked over the mail, singing on
the one letter she was expecting. @Woul
be pleased have you call, as you live 8
near; there are several kinds Of work, an
perhaps you would like 70 choose for your
self, was what the missive said
Il will go, or my names not Eleano
Byone." A determined look came owe
the weary-looking face, and faint blus
crept into her wan cheek, bringing out
delicate tint the loneliness which had sad
Waned since the trying times began.
II know Abner would not like to hav
me take in work. butt doesn't matter;
I am nothing to him any more my ehoic
of employment need not concern hiI
either. He really doesn't care for me muel
know, and cannot love him because b
won't let me. Oh he's killing ever
emotion Of love try 70 keep alive for hin
lust nagging It to DEATH" Twin tears Il
he two falling on the fancy work nov
dropped without ceremony on the name o
Nichols & Leighton on the corner Of th'
snve1oped In her hand
That afternoon Eleanor stood on tn
deck Of the little steamer plying between
her own city and the one across the bay
and felt IS il the golden leaf had beel
thrown upen the dark wool Of her life
web.
Cullen Leighton, the junior partner o
The firm, was In the office busy writ
ing when she called. sob, yes. h
said, pleasantly, Il remember; please ste
this way"
She followed him half way down tn
long, shadoWy emporium, where he too
down box and spread its contents on tn
counter for inspection.
"HoW lOvelyl" she exclaimed. as she "a
her cultivated eye over the patterns dis
played
"Yes, he replied with a sigh. @they az
quite pretty"
he had been taking an unconscious IN
ventory OF her dress, face. and mannei
and her exclamation had brought him bao
suddenly to the fancy work.
She chose her patterns and he role
them up while she in turn watched hin
strange that be grew 50 nervous under he
seeming Scrutiny But he need not hay
become 30 uneomfertablss Tor she vas onl